There is a long and prosperous future store for Armadale if the United Collieries Company holds to the fore, and, indeed, preparations have been begun to ensure speedy draining the old workings the district, in which a vast amount of water must have accumulated these ten years more since No. 8 Pit, Hopetoun, ceased to pump the water of the district. The United Company have arranged to put a double set of large pipes at No. 18 Pit, Baubauchlaw, preparatory to tapping the water, and work is well forward to begin the sinking a pit the lowest point in the district to cope with the water when it is tapped. It is calculated that it will take two years and six months to drain the old workings, when access will be had to a large field of coal in Barbauchlaw estate. While this is being exhausted, boring will have begun to prove the lower steam and gas coal seams that are presently being worked at Bathgate, the position which is estimated to be 300 fathoms deep. As these seams are found so near at hand, mining engineers are satisfied that they are under the Armadale district, and should bores prove the minerals to be of sufficient thickness and quality to warrant working them, within a short time sinking operations will be begun on a large scale, and Armadale may then depend having started out on now lease life.
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 29th April 1904
.......
Preparations have begun to put in a set of 21 inch pipes in No. 18 Pit, Barbauchlaw. and before the week closes the first pipes are expected to be in position. At the new pit at the burn side the hard mineral has been reached, and the work will be let to a contractor directly; but the management desire to erect the engine before the contractor begins. The engine is expected to be ready and steam power available shortly.
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 27th May 1904
.......
New Pit at Barbauchlaw.—During the week there has been evidence of the nearness to completion of the new pit sunk at Barbauchlaw, in the shape of two large boilers having been placed in the pit. Of about 13 tons each, the handling of such enormous piece of mechanism is a sight not seen in Armadale every day and the removal of the boilers to No.17 Buttice end the work of placing them proved of no inconsideraule interest to the townspeople. An Edinburgh firm has had the contract, and for the removal a powerful traction engine was requisitioned, and the journey, while accompanied with much difficulty, was successfully accomplished and the boilers, which have been installed for the pumping operations, will be in working order
West Lothian Courier 3rd June 1904
.......
The great centre of attraction all day Tuesday and part of Wednesday was removal by a traction engine of two large tube boilers from the railway at No. 15 Pit to the new pit beside of Barbauchlaw Burn.
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 3rd June 1904
.......
A new mine was started this week near Woodend Bridge to be driven in the direction of No.18 Pit, Barbauchlaw to act as a watercourse
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 18th November 1904
.......
EXPLOSIVES STOLEN.
On Wednesday morning the explosives magazine at No.18 pit, Barbauchlaw, where a large amount of gelignite and fuse were stored, was found to hate been broken into, and large quantity of explosives taken away. No clue was left to indicate who the burglars were, but it is understood that whoever it was that broke into the magazine were familiar with the place end the stock that was kept there.
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 5th May 1922
